The star of BBC America’s new wildlife adventure docu-series Wild Things With Dominic Monaghan said today at TCA that he was inspired to pursue his longtime dream of doing the show by the death of “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin.

“I was devastated by his death,” said Monaghan, who appeared on the panel with series producer Paul Kilback. “After I got over the initial shock of him dying [I decided] if this is not a reason for me to finally pick up the pieces and make the show, I don’t know what is.” The show “is a love letter to Steve Irwin, to what he achieved and the television shows he left behind.”